A place for stories, poems and a little bit of everything about life

Why we should blog

I’m thinking a lot about writing these days. How does it fit into my life? What do I hope to accomplish with it? Yes, I love writing. I love the process of converting simple thoughts into ideas. Ideas into words and sentences and eventually stories. I love all this. There is no doubt about that.

Given a choice, I will opt for a life with high creativity and little money rather the other way around, again and again.

Still, I’m thinking, how does the writing serve me?

Yes, I feel contented to create something of my own. The feeling gives me a sense of completeness. A sense of achieving something. I feel satisfied and contented.

But is this enough?

With creativity comes an overpowering urge of appreciation. An urge to showcase, an itch to be recognized.

So, I started blogging. And I found many who liked my work. And in the process, I too found many whose work would inspire me. The blogging community gave me back the wings that were cut off by the stunted education system that made me choke my creativity instincts for same ‘A’s on report cards that I don’t even care to look for anymore.

The blogging experience was the fuel I needed to express myself more. I hoped to find the people who would read and interpret and critique my work where required. And as a result, I would come out as a better and better writer.

For a life of no improvement is not a life in the first place. We need to keep moving. The stagnant water rots. The idle bird is killed. Nothing is stationary in this world. This earth, the sun, the stars -everything is moving; even the rocks lying on the face of the earth are in a state of a constant tussle between creation and erosion.

That’s what I hoped to achieve via this blogging.

But somewhere I lost track. Instead of the process, I started focusing on the results. The stats, the likes, the views, the followers. I don’t know when but suddenly I started measuring my success on these parameters.

To what end? What would it serve?

What would a thousand following with hundreds of likes per post achieve more than just massaging our egos? Isn’t it more important to have instead, an acquaintance of those who would read your work and share their true feelings with you?

I have found many, in fact, here in this blogging world. They share their views on the other’s blogs, their honest views. And that’s really important. For every time they share their views, it helps us look back, and optimize our thought process, our writing style. I am glad I found the company of these in this blogging world. I truly am.

I never look at my stats, Nitin. Blogging, for me, has become about friendship and engagement, and that approach has served me well. I’m glad you’re finding your community out here and getting what you need. Ignore the stats, they’ll grow as you participate. 🙂

Nitin, I think what you have touched on here, it so relevant. Let me just say, some may find my words offensive, so please feel free to delete my comment.

I have been struggling with this idea for some time. Not so much for myself or my own motivations, but more so on behalf of other egocentric bloggers. I come here to practice my craft and the creative process. I believe that is what the WordPress platform was initially intended for. Sadly it has become an extension of a sort of a social media. I would be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate the kind words that others have to offer. However, there are definitely times I wonder about the motivations of some bloggers, as they show up on my page just to stroke their own egos, which I very much dislike and it goes against everything I believe in.

Thankfully there are those in this community that are sincere, they don’t measure their creative worth by the numbers, they don’t get in the goldenrod star line to just hit like from the reader without ever reading one word. So what if a blogger has twenty thousand followers, but then they only glean 300 likes on a post, do the math, it’s laughable. To put so much time and energy into developing a cult following, instead of working to improve their art, *shaking my head*, that’s a shame. This is so telling, as to who is truly a practicing artist and who is not.

Obviously you can tell I’m quite passionate about this. I’m so happy to have found your blog and it’s always my privilege to read your fine offerings. This is a wonderful post, something that needed to be addressed, which you did in a lovely fashion. I’m so delighted that you shared your thoughts on this topic. As always please take good care. ~ Mia

“..Sadly it has become an extension of a sort of a social media..” – this is something sad but really true. I too thought of wordpress as different from Facebook, where I would be away from this mindless liking..but this is exactly what has started to happen here too.. people liking other’s work without even reading, just to get likes back…

to what end? i don’t know.. i think all start with a good intention but then fall into this trap.

I can see your passion for blogging in this comment. And I’m really lucky to have company of like yours here. These things rubs off. thank you for sharing these words. 🙂

Nitin, thank you for a kind reply. Your writing has great merit, I am hopeful that you are truly aware of this. As a matter of fact I’ve been meaning to ask you, have submitted any of your short stories for publication? If so great, if not, I hope it’s something you’re considering. Likewise, I’m lucky and appreciate your company here as well. Please have a wonderful week. ~ Mia

Thank you for saying that Mia. These words of yours are really encouraging. But to be honest, I never gave much thought about my writing, not good enough perhaps. Though, initially, sometime last year, I did contacted a website that publishes short stories. But didn’t get any response. So had left the idea after that altogether. 😉

“The blogging community gave me back the wings that were cut off by the stunted education system that made me choke my creativity instincts for same ‘A’s on report cards that I don’t even care to look for anymore.”

Perfect! 🙂 Creating, whether it is writing, painting or any art for that matter gives us our true selves; the one that was taken away from us by the education system. I think, it is more about discovering ourselves.

Yes Ranjini ~ You are right. It is the process of discovering ourselves, removing the layers that we have put on to find our true selves. Thank you very much for reading and sharing your thoughts here. Have a great rest of the weekend. 🙂